It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding standing in night prayer that when he passed a verse of punishment, he sought refuge in Allah from it, and the like of that. Is this done in the obligatory prayer?

The questioner : Here a question arises following this answer.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : If a man is praying the night prayer and passes a verse containing punishment, he seeks refuge in Allah, Glorious is His Majesty, from it. And if he passes a verse in which there is glad tidings of mercy, he asks Allah for that. Does this action apply to him in the obligatory prayer?

The Shaykh : No, no, by Allah.

The questioner : This is not like the situation I mentioned a moment ago where we take the voluntary and the obligatory.

The Shaykh : No.

The questioner : Is this an exception, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : No, three times no is sufficient.

The questioner : It is sufficient, yes.

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) pray the congregational prayer aloud?

The questioner : Yes, he prayed.

The Shaykh : Did he pray a voluntary congregational prayer?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : There is a practical difference between them in what we are discussing.

The questioner : No, there is no difference.

The Shaykh : If you divide it into two, meaning the word "no" or otherwise, you will fall into the same predicament as before.

The questioner : There is a difference and there is no difference.

The Shaykh : Ah, meaning my question was limited. I will clarify it for you.

The questioner : Please, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Do you know that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was reciting aloud in the obligatory prayer, if he passed a verse of mercy, he would stop at it and ask, and if he passed a verse of punishment, he would stop at it and seek refuge from the punishment, and if he passed a verse of seeking forgiveness, he would stop at it and seek forgiveness from Allah. Do you know this?

The questioner : No.

The Shaykh : This is the distinction.

The questioner : In the obligatory prayer.

The Shaykh : Someone made a presentation to you.

The questioner : One of the people from Maghrib, O our Shaykh, says yes.
In the obligatory prayer.

The Shaykh : Did you get the answer?

The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good. Give your turn to your brother Mهند.